Beaver Area High School's choral director Susan Jaworowski said she chose "Fiddler on the Roof" as the spring musical because she had what many high school musical directors can only dream of -- a large group of talented young men.

"I wanted a showcase for them," said Ms. Jaworowski. "I wanted that one song, like 'There's Nothing Like a Dame,' in 'South Pacific.' And then I remembered 'To Life,' which has the bottle dance."

"Fiddler," which opens tomorrow, follows turn-of-the-century Russian milkman Tevye as he grapples with his modern-minded daughters, the Tsar's pogroms and his own Jewish faith. Debuting on Broadway in 1964, it won a Tony award for best musical and includes "Sunrise, Sunset," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" and "If I Were a Rich Man."

"To Life," which takes place in a bar after Tevye announces his daughter's engagement, has turned out to be her young men's favorite song in the show. Ms. Jaworowski said while she expected only four or five to be able to do the bottle dance, she has nine. "They've only broken three bottles since January."

Another cast favorite is "Tevye's Dream," in which Tevye relates a frightening "dream" he has had to persuade his wife to marry their daughter Tzeitel to her penniless boyfriend. "There's tombstones, and the girl who plays the ghost of Fruma Sarah," senior Abby Cleland, "is really doing an outstanding job."

"Fiddler" also stars James Williams as Tevye and Hannah Hawthorne as Golde. Dana Jones plays Tzeitel, Rachel Halle plays Hodel and Kristen Lancaster plays Chava. Braden Pontoli plays Motel and Max Goldcamp plays Perchik.

Ms. Jaworowski said another way her cast excels is in vocal talent. "I believe in acting through singing," she said. "I can hear if they really feel it, and when they do, it will bring tears to your eyes."

Ms. Jaworowski and her assistant, Beaver Area's English and drama teacher Mary Kay Karger, were also serious about using the events depicted in "Fiddler" as an opportunity to teach their students some history. They invited Rabbi Martin Shorr, of New Castle's Temple Hadar Israel, to speak to the cast at the start of rehearsals.

Ms. Jaworowski said some directors avoid "Fiddler" because of its serious subject matter. "It's not tap-dancing and 'Whoo-hoo!' " she noted. "But even though some of the songs are in a minor key, it always maintains this inner energy. It's because there's hope -- these people will be going on."

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